Almost opaque with a purple hue, this is classic syrah from the Northern Rhone. Rich and spicy on the nose with an underlying savoury quality, the palate is rich and spicy too, with ripe approachable tannins. The finish is long, smooth and velvety.

Almost opaque with a purple hue, this is classic syrah from the Northern Rhone. Rich and spicy on the nose with an underlying savoury quality, the palate is rich and spicy too, with ripe approachable tannins. The finish is long, smooth and velvety.

A lively, agile, tangy, young Syrah oozes ripe, succulent peppery fruit from every pore. Vibrant, smile-inducing Syrah.

A beautiful golden yellow colour glinting with silver. The wine is clear and very bright.
The nose is complex and powerful, white flowers, dried fruit, candied white fruit, with a honeyed side too, notes of beeswax furniture polish reinforce the complexity without making it heavy. The elevage in French oak is well managed; revealing some nice vanilla notes; hints which in no way dominate the wine. Each element takes its place and contributes to the fulfilment of a harmonious marriage.
The palate is superb, lightly candied white fruit and again, hints of vanilla and honey. The sucrosité is just right, giving volume, intensity and length.

A floral fine nose, generous fleshy ripe fruits with a certain restraint, faint white flower and jasmine notes,complex but a beautifully elegant style of Condrieu. This is a part tank, part barriques-fermented blend of Viognier grapes from a parcel at Verlieux and young vines Côteau de Chery.
An elegant wine which also in its current phase shows a need for some further aging.
This beauty represents all that a classic Condrieu should be.

Alain Graillot stormed in the Crozes wine scene in the mid-80’s, and by the end of the decade seemed to be producing the best wines of the appellation. A dip followed in the early 90’s, but since the second half of the decade, Alain Graillot is back in impressive form. 100% syrah, this dark red-coloured wine is dense and filled with blackberry, loganberry with hints of tar and game. This wine oozes power through a lengthy, driven finish. The fruit is ripe and plentiful with notes of mineral, toast and garrigue.

Dark ruby, quite warm colour. Fabulous nose. Peppery and rich, with black fruits, coffee and juicy cherry note, some mushroomy notes and hints of damp undergrowth. Freshly ground coffee and then aromas of mushroom and truffle. Beautifully pure core of cassis and cherry fruit on the palate wrapped inside some firm tannins and quite high acidity.Really complex and structured. Needs more time, but very, very fine indeed.

"Medium ruby. Spicy aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, gunmetal, tar and game. Rich, silky and sweet, but a bit subdued following the bottling and not currently showing its complexity. Finishes quite long, with very round, fine tannins. This was made from riper fruit than the '95, noted Philippe Guigal, even if the '95 was a more massive wine." 91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"Sadly, there are only 23,000 bottles (all aged in small oak) of the outstanding 1996 Côte-Rôtie Chateau d'Ampuis, which was bottled in October, 1999. Its dark ruby/purple colour is followed by an intense nose of tapenade, dried herbs, licorice, leather, and black currants. The wine is nicely-textured, soft, with less acidity than most 1996 Côte-Rôties, and a layered, supple finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. Robert Parker 90 points Wine Advocate.